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K-State Today

July 13, 2011

Enhanced wireless security now active

Submitted by Harvard Townsend

On July 12, Information Technology Services increased the security of the wireless network by migrating from WEP to WPA2 Enterprise. K-Staters will find three new SSIDs  — network names — in their list of wireless networks available on campus:

  • KSU Wireless, for all K-Staters
  • KSU Guest, for campus visitors
  • KSU Housing, for residence hall and Jardine residents only

K-Staters will use the more secure KSU Wireless network. To access KSU Wireless, users will be routed to an automated configuration tool that requires signing in with an eID and password.

Campus visitors will use the KSU Guest network, which is unencrypted and will not require an eID/password. KSU Guest will be restricted to not allow access to K-State Online, webmail, iSIS, HRIS, Service-now, VPN and the financial information system — which will protect those systems.

The current wireless network, k-state.net that requires the WEP key, will be disabled Oct. 25.

Our goal is to improve the security of the wireless network and simplify access. Since mid-June, SIRT and system administrators have been testing the new WPA2 Enterprise wireless network. Watch for more about WPA2 Enterprise in future articles.

For more information, see Wireless Networks at K-State and use the Wireless Network setup tool to configure your device.